.....bloom.....

.....there was a lot going on this past week that had me stressed out.....can't sleep, tossing and turning, taking a shower at 2 am to help relax kind of anxiety......and although I have gotten much better at handling stress in my wise age of 30 something than in years past, there are some things that still get me.....

......it's all past us now......and I won't get into the details, but I find that when I end up in situations like this past week, the only thing that helps me is prayer, surrounding myself with good friends and spending time focusing on my family....and with that being said, we are having a baby in 5 weeks.....

 .....so this post was started earlier this week as therapy for a Momma who just needed to focus on the good things in our life that are here and present and around the corner......

.....and the thought of adding to a family that is already incredibly blessed with love was like escaping to the beach and hearing the soft sound of the waves crashing in.....I was instantly filled with warmth as the sweet thoughts helped me escape..... 

.....and maybe since this is our third baby, there isn't any anxiety about getting anything ready for this love child.....it's all here.....some of the clothes are color coordinated in drawers and neatly folded, but there are still so many things yet to be done.....the crib isn't ready, the bedding is still in a box somewhere, I don't own any bottles since I purged all of my old ones.....so there is a lot of prep that still needs to be done, but yet to be done is really okay.....

.....because I have two precious little ones to run after that keep me pretty busy......and there is a peacefulness about the babies that come after the first one because a Momma has the confidence, experience and knowledge to know that it will all fall into place......so spending time dreaming about this child that we are emotionally so ready for......but technically not so ready for is quite relaxing and dreamy......

......and I know that stressful situations......sad and trying moments are used to keep things in perspective......they ground us, force us to dig our heels in a little deeper; draw us close to the ones we love....they give us wisdom and confidence to know that the next time we endure something challenging, it will all be alright........and for me, situations that rock my world and jolt me out of my comfort zone bring me closer to the One who makes all things possible......

.......and so I try to find contentment in all situations......and that is hard to do, but growth is not a moment; it's a process.....and all hills and valleys in life allow for us to grow, reflect, grow, reflect......and both are gratifying and uncomfortable in their own unique ways......but I am thankful for both because the combination of the two allow each of us to blossom and reveal our work in progress.....

....so this will be the week of reflection, until the next growth spurt.... 

.....savoring every minute.....

Sara Blackburn Photography